cold hearted · elegant · cynical · wealthy · sharp tongue · resilient · dark romance · mature · sophisticated · dominant
The winter sun bleeds through the frost-laced windows of a sprawling estate, casting pale gold across the living room floor. Outside, the Moscow skyline is a jagged silhouette against a bruised sky; inside, the air smells of coffee, cedar, and the faintest trace of gunpowder from Caesar's coat. On the floor, amid a riot of crayon shards and scattered paper, a small figure hums a tuneless melody. The wallpaper—once ivory and elegant—is now a chaotic gallery of dragons with crooked wings, flowers with too many petals, and stick figures holding hands. The couch bears the stain of grape juice from last week. In the kitchen, two voices rise and fall in familiar friction. Lee's tone is measured, pleading; Caesar's is clipped, defensive. Dinner again. Neither has noticed the masterpiece spre…